Once-homeless teen loses Kalamazoo Promise, but donors step up

A teen from Kalamazoo has received thousands of dollars in donations after a mix-up left her without an expected scholarship and scrambling to pay for college.

Zaviona Woodruff graduated this year from Kalamazoo Public Schools. The district is part of an anonymously-funded program called the Kalamazoo Promise, which offers full college scholarships to students who spend kindergarten through 12th grade in the school system and live within its boundaries.

Zaviona was counting on the scholarship to attend Oakland University, according to her GoFundMe page. But, after a bout of homelessness, she and her family inadvertently moved outside of the district — and she lost the scholarship.

As Zaviona's story spread, strangers opened their wallets. About $15,000 has been donated to her through GoFundMe, beating her initial goal of $12,000.

Robert Jorth, executive director of the Kalamazoo Promise, said he couldn't talk about Zaviona's case because of privacy reasons, but stressed that one of the program's key facets is its residency rules. He also said it doesn't discriminate against homeless students.

Since its beginning in 2005, the Kalamazoo Promise has had three eligibility requirements: Students must be continuously enrolled in the Kalamazoo school system all through high school; they must live within the school district's boundaries; and they need to graduate from the district.

Children who attend from kindergarten through 12th grade receive a 100% tuition scholarship. Students who only meet the high school requirements get a 65% scholarship.

Zaviona wrote on her GoFundMe page that in the middle of her sophomore year, she and her family were evicted and had to live in a homeless shelter for a few months. She kept taking the bus to her high school.

Her dad, a single father to her and her two sisters, eventually found an apartment. Zaviona said that the complex's leasing agent told them their new home was in Kalamazoo Public Schools. However, it sits in the Comstock district.

"Imagine our disbelief and disappointment when we were denied a bus to and from school and were told at registration for enrollment in KPS that we lived in the Comstock District," Zaviona wrote. "That was my junior year and I knew that at that point I would be losing the one thing that was going to help me get through college: the Kalamazoo Promise."

Zaviona was denied the scholarship. She appealed, but an appeals committee upheld the original decision.

Jorth said more than 90% of students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools are eligible for the scholarship. Since 2005, the program has awarded more than $110 million in scholarships to more than 5,000 students.

More than 400 students have utilized the scholarship program's appeals process over the years. That involves a student writing a letter and providing supporting information that is then reviewed by a committee.

"The Kalamazoo Promise has never been denied to a student because they were homeless," Jorth said. "If students have a period of homelessness, we waive the residency requirements at that time."

Jorth said when a student is denied a scholarship, program officials help them identify other forms of financial aid.

On the GoFundMe page she started back in May, Zaviona wrote that her dream of attending Oakland University was in jeopardy. Still, she said she was continuing to work hard in high school.

"I just wanted to share this with someone. Anyone who could help," she wrote.

Not only has Zaviona beat her initial fundraising goal, but Oakland University officials have taken notice.

Brian Bierley, director of media relations for the university, was quoted by Fox 17 as saying officials are helping her hunt for financial assistance and scholarships.

Fox 17 said Bierley told Zaviona: “You have been the talk of Oakland University."